SouthernWorldwide.com – A torrent of progressive endorsements for Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner has come back to haunt numerous Democrats after serious rape allegations surfaced against him.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who had previously called Platner “My kind of man” at an April rally, issued a statement Monday night following the emergence of allegations that Platner drunkenly raped Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, in 2021.
“Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values. There can be no tolerance for sexual assault,” Warren stated. She added, “Working families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
A spokesperson for Warren did not respond to specific questions regarding whether the senator regretted her previous backing of Platner, who has not yet withdrawn from the race as of Tuesday morning, despite a series of prior scandals.
Progressive figures had supported Platner even as he faced months of damaging revelations. These included the discovery of a Nazi-linked tattoo on his chest, accusations of infidelity, lewd comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account, and mockery directed at a Purple Heart veteran.
Last month, Platner also faced accusations of physical misconduct and violence from an ex-girlfriend, who was subsequently characterized as a conservative political operative.
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., remained silent on the rape allegations until midday Tuesday. He released a statement saying, “I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
Sanders had previously pledged to “do everything I can to make sure that Graham Platner is the next Senator from the state of Maine.”
The left-leaning media and commentators played a significant role in elevating Platner’s profile within the Democratic Party.
Former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor, who host the “Pod Save America” podcast, were among the most prominent supporters of Platner’s candidacy.
“Graham Platner isn’t just our best and only chance to beat Susan Collins, he’s a good, decent man who’s struggled and grown and is always trying to do better,” Favreau had posted on X in April, well after the Reddit post and Nazi tattoo scandals had come to light.
Favreau altered his stance Monday night, posting, “Platner needs to drop out ASAP – these are awful, credible allegations. Said on the pod after the (also credible) June NYT story that his biggest problem going forward would be credibility. It’s now abundantly clear that he just hasn’t been honest about his past and can’t be trusted as a candidate for office.”
Vietor had defended Platner in May after Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., who is Jewish, deemed the candidate’s Nazi-linked tattoo and Reddit posts as “disqualifying.” Vietor had questioned Auchincloss on X, asking, “Have you called or met with him to discuss it?”
Vietor had also interviewed Platner following those earlier scandals. However, he too reversed his position on Monday night, stating, “This story is really bad, well-documented and credible, and obviously the right course of action for Platner is to drop out as soon as possible so that Maine democrats can get a replacement on the ballot.”
Pfeiffer echoed these sentiments, writing on X, “The allegations against Graham Platner are well-documented, very credible, and highly disturbing. He should drop out ASAP.”
Lovett did not issue a direct statement but shared a clip from Monday’s “Pod Save America” episode. In the clip, despite his apology, Vietor shifted focus back to politics, expressing concern about winning the Senate seat and suggesting the Democratic Party “could ultimately be in a stronger place politically.”
Some individuals not only failed to condemn Platner but also adopted provocative positions.
“Graham Platner may drop out. (I hope he doesn’t, but.) Meanwhile, the Abuser in Chief just keeps on keepin’ on,” wrote author Stephen King on X, referencing past allegations against President Donald Trump.
King later posted that all politicians in Washington, D.C. are corrupt, adding, “Tell you what–if you knew the whole truth about everyone in the Senate and House of Reps, those chambers would be dead empty. Jesus said, ‘Let him without sin cast the first stone.'”
Far-left media personality Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks spent much of Monday attributing blame for the scandal to various entities, including the media and the “Israeli lobby.”
“Congratulations to national media on politically assassinating Graham Platner,” he posted. “If he drops out and Democratic Party tries to give us two candidates who are both for Israel and corporate pacs [sic], they’ll face a revolt like they’ve never seen. Days of bull—- false choices are over.”
Ryan Grim, formerly of The Intercept, had extensively defended Platner online. In a June post promoting an opinion piece on Platner, Grim argued, “Democrats need people like Platner if they are going to come to terms with the true nature of our country, with what we have done to people at home and abroad, and pull together the coalition needed to heal and reshape it.”
On Monday night, Grim reported on X that Platner “lost his base,” but did not directly address the rape allegations or his prior support for the candidate.
Other prominent Democrats who have distanced themselves from Platner include Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
